BA Bonus Miles twist
Feb 14, 2008 | 9:40 am
#1
Original Poster
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BA Bonus Miles twist
I guess we all knew that BA is offering a 30% bonus on hotel points transferred to BA miles, which is good until Feb 29.
However, in an email from BA, they noted that Starpoints can be converted until March 31 and still get the bonus.
This is good news for me, since I'm in the process of adding an SPG AMEX to the rest of the members of my BA Household Account, and I was pretty sure the points wouldn't post before the end of February. Looks like now I have a shot at picking up the bonus.
Maybe everyone else knew about this, but it was news to me, and very welcome news at that.
However, in an email from BA, they noted that Starpoints can be converted until March 31 and still get the bonus.
This is good news for me, since I'm in the process of adding an SPG AMEX to the rest of the members of my BA Household Account, and I was pretty sure the points wouldn't post before the end of February. Looks like now I have a shot at picking up the bonus.
Maybe everyone else knew about this, but it was news to me, and very welcome news at that.
Feb 14, 2008 | 10:04 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Living in SIN™, trying to make it through a year in BLR
Programs: SQ Pew Pew SSSS, Marriott/Accor Plat, IC Dia Amb, GHA Tit, Avis/Hertz PC
Posts: 6,770
North American members only. Its a great deal - I converted 60K SPG points to 97.5K BA miles....thats almost 4 RTs MFU'd from WT+ to Club World ^
Existing thread in the BA forum...miles post to BA every Tuesday so its pretty quick.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=763949
Existing thread in the BA forum...miles post to BA every Tuesday so its pretty quick.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=763949
Feb 14, 2008 | 10:39 am
#3
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Yeah, I knew about the thread. The point of the post was that I wasn't aware that the deadline was March 31. For the rest of the hotel chains (and I was planning on doing a dump of Marriott points), the deadline is Feb. 29.
Besides, not everyone who might benefit from this hangs out in the BA forum. I got there originally because I took advantage of the old Diner's Club deal with 100% bonus (sigh - them were the days) and, even though I had never flown BA before, I wound up with 2 F returns almost entirely due to the DC/BA bonus.
Nowadays, 30% is considered pretty good, especially when SPG will give you 25% (20K SPG -> 25K miles -> 32.5K BA miles with this promo). Put it all together and you've got a 62.5% bonus.
Besides, not everyone who might benefit from this hangs out in the BA forum. I got there originally because I took advantage of the old Diner's Club deal with 100% bonus (sigh - them were the days) and, even though I had never flown BA before, I wound up with 2 F returns almost entirely due to the DC/BA bonus.
Nowadays, 30% is considered pretty good, especially when SPG will give you 25% (20K SPG -> 25K miles -> 32.5K BA miles with this promo). Put it all together and you've got a 62.5% bonus.
Feb 14, 2008 | 11:45 am
#4
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Naples, Florida
Posts: 7,419
I guess we all knew that BA is offering a 30% bonus on hotel points transferred to BA miles, which is good until Feb 29.
However, in an email from BA, they noted that Starpoints can be converted until March 31 and still get the bonus.......Maybe everyone else knew about this, but it was news to me, and very welcome news at that.
However, in an email from BA, they noted that Starpoints can be converted until March 31 and still get the bonus.......Maybe everyone else knew about this, but it was news to me, and very welcome news at that.
Terms and conditions:
To qualify, you must be an existing Starwood Preferred Guest member and a British Airways Executive Club member residing in the US, Canada or Bermuda only.
Offer valid for Starpoints to BA Miles conversions made between January 1 and March 31, 2008. Minimum Starpoints transfer apply and vary per tier: 2,500 for Preferred; 1,500 for Preferred+, Corporate Preferred and Gold Preferred; No minimum for Platinum and VIP Preferred.
For every 20,000 Starpoints, you will receive 5,000 Starpoint bonus to be converted to BA Miles. Both the Starpoints from your account and the Starwood Preferred Guest Airline transfer bonus will qualify for the 30% promotional bonus.
Maximum number of Starpoints that can be converted per transaction is 94,999 (79,999 from the member plus 15,000 from the airline transfer bonus). Members may only transfer Starpoints into their own frequent flyer accounts once per airline within a 24 hour period.
You may only transfer Starpoints to an Executive Club account that is in your name.
Once Starpoints are transferred into BA Miles, they cannot be returned to Starpoints.
All terms and conditions of the Starwood Preferred Guest programme apply.
BA Miles will post to your Executive Club account 4-6 weeks from the date of conversion.
All BA Miles issued are subject to Executive Club terms and conditions.
To qualify, you must be an existing Starwood Preferred Guest member and a British Airways Executive Club member residing in the US, Canada or Bermuda only.
Offer valid for Starpoints to BA Miles conversions made between January 1 and March 31, 2008. Minimum Starpoints transfer apply and vary per tier: 2,500 for Preferred; 1,500 for Preferred+, Corporate Preferred and Gold Preferred; No minimum for Platinum and VIP Preferred.
For every 20,000 Starpoints, you will receive 5,000 Starpoint bonus to be converted to BA Miles. Both the Starpoints from your account and the Starwood Preferred Guest Airline transfer bonus will qualify for the 30% promotional bonus.
Maximum number of Starpoints that can be converted per transaction is 94,999 (79,999 from the member plus 15,000 from the airline transfer bonus). Members may only transfer Starpoints into their own frequent flyer accounts once per airline within a 24 hour period.
You may only transfer Starpoints to an Executive Club account that is in your name.
Once Starpoints are transferred into BA Miles, they cannot be returned to Starpoints.
All terms and conditions of the Starwood Preferred Guest programme apply.
BA Miles will post to your Executive Club account 4-6 weeks from the date of conversion.
All BA Miles issued are subject to Executive Club terms and conditions.
Feb 14, 2008 | 11:51 am
#5
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Naples, Florida
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Feb 15, 2008 | 7:55 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SXSW
Programs: DL Plat; HH Diamond; SPG & Hyatt Plat
Posts: 996
North American members only. Its a great deal - I converted 60K SPG points to 97.5K BA miles....thats almost 4 RTs MFU'd from WT+ to Club World ^
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=763949
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=763949
I understand most of the terms in this post, except "MFU'd from WT+ to Club World" - does that mean just using the miles on mileage partners?
Feb 15, 2008 | 7:59 am
#7
Flyertalk Posting Legend Moderator: Credit Card Programs, American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Diners Club, Eco Travel, Signatures
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Feb 15, 2008 | 8:01 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Orchard Field
Posts: 1,421
MFU = Miles For Upgrades
WT+ = World Traveller Plus on BA (like Economy Plus)
Club World = Business Class on BA
As an example, it only costs 25k miles to MFU both outbound and inbound, from WT+ to Club World on a BA TATL journey like ORD-LHR-ORD.
Many people think this is an extremely efficient use of BA miles.
Feb 15, 2008 | 9:04 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SXSW
Programs: DL Plat; HH Diamond; SPG & Hyatt Plat
Posts: 996
Heh, yeah, also tough still being a bit fo a n00b Thanks for your help!
So you have to have the WT+ ticket already, cash paid for it or something I assume.
I'm trying to figure out the most efficient use of SPG points for a vacation and flights to Europe from XNA (NW Arkansas). I know Cathay was devalued, and the problem with BA is taxes are $350-$400 for the tickets we'd need. Not sure what to do.
Thanks for your help!So you have to have the WT+ ticket already, cash paid for it or something I assume.
I'm trying to figure out the most efficient use of SPG points for a vacation and flights to Europe from XNA (NW Arkansas). I know Cathay was devalued, and the problem with BA is taxes are $350-$400 for the tickets we'd need. Not sure what to do.
Feb 17, 2008 | 10:02 am
#11
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Orchard Field
Posts: 1,421
So you have to have the WT+ ticket already, cash paid for it or something I assume.
I'm trying to figure out the most efficient use of SPG points for a vacation and flights to Europe from XNA (NW Arkansas). I know Cathay was devalued, and the problem with BA is taxes are $350-$400 for the tickets we'd need. Not sure what to do.
I'm trying to figure out the most efficient use of SPG points for a vacation and flights to Europe from XNA (NW Arkansas). I know Cathay was devalued, and the problem with BA is taxes are $350-$400 for the tickets we'd need. Not sure what to do.
I beleive in theory you can book a WT+ then call in to apply your miles and get an upgrade, but then you have to be sure of availability and that you initially bought the correct fare class. All-in-all I find it easier to do it all at once on the website.
I am assuming you are planning for a party of 2. I'd say that BA J tickets are still a good value for money, even with the taxes - but I do seem to remember reading somewhere (was it gleff's blog?) that Asia Miles used to book BA flights were better value. Can't quite remember though - you might want to check out gleff's blog or just PM gleff.
Good luck!
Feb 17, 2008 | 6:36 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SXSW
Programs: DL Plat; HH Diamond; SPG & Hyatt Plat
Posts: 996
I am assuming you are planning for a party of 2. I'd say that BA J tickets are still a good value for money, even with the taxes - but I do seem to remember reading somewhere (was it gleff's blog?) that Asia Miles used to book BA flights were better value. Can't quite remember though - you might want to check out gleff's blog or just PM gleff.
Actually family of 4. I believe I read a post about Cathay having a good conversion, but I believe that was before a devaluation. I'll have to find the reference to AsiaMiles in Gleff's blog.
Thanks for the response and advice, nigelloring!
Feb 17, 2008 | 6:47 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: IAH
Posts: 242
Feb 17, 2008 | 7:52 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SXSW
Programs: DL Plat; HH Diamond; SPG & Hyatt Plat
Posts: 996
Here's the link to the blog:
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/viewfr...ansfer-promos/
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/viewfr...ansfer-promos/
I think for business class, it certainly makes sense to use Cathay AsiaMiles. However, it's a lot of points for a family - 65k SPG points for each ticket (65k x 4) is 260,000 SPG points! (Possibly more, as we wouldn't just be flying from NYC to London, and I think the award is based on mileage). So the reason I think BA might be better under this 30% promotion is that we'll just fly coach (50k BA Miles from anywhere US to most of western Europe) which will only require a little more than 120,000 SPG points... so in this case (4 people, coach, BA promo) it seems I do not have a better value alternative.
Feb 21, 2008 | 12:15 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Naples, Florida
Posts: 7,419
Savage25:
Thanks. You are well informed ... indeed, the BA miles showed up on Tuesday. I transfered the Starwood Points on 2/14/2008 and the BA Miles posted the next Tuesday ... that was really fast.
Thanks again for the information!
Thanks. You are well informed ... indeed, the BA miles showed up on Tuesday. I transfered the Starwood Points on 2/14/2008 and the BA Miles posted the next Tuesday ... that was really fast.
Thanks again for the information!